Sierra Foothills, U.S. Tempranillo, California Chenin Blanc

For Wine Spectator's MaryAnn Worobiec, being a wine lover means an ongoing path of discovery, and her picks for this story reflect that in a few different ways. She discovered California's Sierra Foothills while driving around and getting lost on country roads with names like Stringbean Alley. The vineyards she found there were remarkable and farmed by passionate people, and those experiences resonated so strongly with her that she is transported back there when she drinks their wines. Discovering her affinity for Chenin Blanc means admitting she tends to root for underdog varieties, and the people who never give up on them. Tempranillo is more a discovery of a hedonistic side of her palate.

For the full article, check out the new issue of Wine Spectator, on newsstands January 28, 2014.

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